ToeFunk Studios - the smallest tufts I've found!

My continued move towards smaller scales for, especially historic, wargaming led me to seek out tufts that didn't look like giant shrubs next to 10mm miniatures - well I chanced across a new to me (and pretty new overall from what I can see) company on eBay called ToeFunk Studios who make a range of teeny 2mm tufts! They looked very promising indeed so I took a punt and bought a couple of packs to try out - first the parched grass:

and the muted grass:

Each box contains a couple of sheets of tufts - 400 tufts in total!

But that's not all - they very kindly included some mini-sheets of a couple of other colours in their range by way of samples.  First the lush ones (sorry photo bit blurry but they are tiddly things after all!):

And also some scorched tufts:

I decided to try a couple of the lush ones on a project that will be shared here at some point (once the finishing touches are applied) - here's the ToeFunk Studios tufts on a 10mm Japanese WW2 miniature from Pendraken:

I'm really impressed with the tufts - I think they look absolutely perfect on the smaller scale miniatures, and would look very natural on larger scales too as some very fine detailing.  One tip - with larger tufts I find I generally just use my fingers to remove/place, but as these are so small I had best success using my hobby knife to transfer them from the sheet to the base - simple and no fuss!

I liked the packs I got so much I ordered some more from ToeFunk Studio's range - don't think there's a better way to prove how pleased I am with the tufts! 👍

These will be appearing on a lot of my projects going forward - I'm very happy to have found someone making tufts that are perfect for smaller scale gaming!

UPDATE

I've now received the other tufts and they are also excellent, here's the Lush ones:

These will help provide some vibrant 'jungle' to the bases of my Burma project!

I also got the Woodland tufts:

These are a little darker than the Lush ones and I think will be very versatile - I know they'll be making an appearance on some WW2 stuff I've got coming in!

Finally, and again for some WW2 stuff on order, I got the Harsh Frost tufts:

These would also be very useful for Frostgrave stuff of course - and anywhere else you want a frosted look!

Seller Review - Cottage Craft

 I needed some putty recently, and having decided to give Milliput a go I needed to source some.  I looked around and came across Cottage Craft via their eBay presence (that I'd used a couple of times before for small restocks).  I decided to cut out the middle man and go direct to Cottage Craft's website this time.

So, I placed an order and despite being during the 'in between Christmas and New Year period' it was processed and delivered pretty quickly.  Colour me suitably impressed!

Yes - the order started with a pack of Milliput - for those that may have lived under a rock for a long time, this is what it looks like!

Very reasonably priced it was too!

Of course, I took the opportunity to stock up on some other things - first a bottle of Vallejo Polyurethane Matt Varnish (matt varnish is the only one I'll use - except for specific effects such as gems/lenses etc then it's gloss):

And some Matt Medium and some Desert Dust pigment (to add to the pigment selection I posted previously!):

I have been liking the Rust Wash I got from the Vallejo Model Washes range so thought I'd check those out - I picked up Black, White and Light Grey washes:

And finally Desert Dust and Dark Yellow:

These are all good size bottles too so will last me a little while!

I can certainly recommend Cottage Craft for your paints and modelling supplies - they stock Vallejo, Army Painter, AK, Humbrol and assorted other stuff.  Prices are really competitive and the service was smooth as could be.  

OSHIROmodels - Japanese Buildings

I knew I wanted some scenery for games of Sengoku Monster Hunter so was on the lookout for suitable options and quickly came across OSHIROmodels.  

I decided to start with a selection of homes - the three Medium Dwellings from the 15mm Village range and the Large Dwelling from the same range:

I thought it might be good to have a couple of non-dwelling options too, so I picked up a Small Kura (storehouse) again from the 15mm Village range and a Shimeii Torii from the 15mm Religious range:

I've filled a few small gaps on these using Vallejo Plastic Putty - the stones on the rooves are seemingly a little prone to bubbles, but nothing major or you wouldn't expect from resin pieces.  I already know I want more from OSHIRO - the Odou (roadside shrine), Kajiya (blacksmiths) and Yadoya (inn) are certain purchases when funds allow, probably more though 😉

I can definitely recommend OSHIRO for value, quality and service.  These will really provide the perfect setting for our yokai hunting shenanigans!

10mm Scenery - Battlescale

As I planned out the rest of this project I quickly realised I needed some scenery pieces that would work at this new (to me) scale.  I looked around and discovered Battlescale - they offer a range of scales and settings/periods, but a quick look at the 10mm offerings firmed up my plans!

I opted for a couple of the 10mm Crofts, to represent simple homes that will work for rural Ireland.  

There are a variety of agricultural buildings that match perfectly with the Crofts - so I picked up the Cattle Byre, Pig Pen and Thatched Stone Barn:

I also picked up a selection of hedge pieces - went for mostly straights with a couple each of corners and gated sections.  Here's one of each to give you an idea:

Finally I spotted a set of Hasty Earthworks - a pack of four felled trees/rocks that I think are generic enough to work for a range of settings. There are two different designs that you get at random - I got lucky and ended up with two of each!

The sculpts are all really nicely detailed and the casts were very clean - requiring next to no tidy up or prep beyond the usual bath! The prices are really good value too, and the pieces have a pleasing weight to boot.  This was my first time buying from Battlescale, but it won't be the last - and I can definitely recommend not just the quality, but the service too.

Tomb Guardians - Amazons

I backed the Tomb Guardians Kickstarter for their range of Amazons a while ago - it got hit with COVID-19 which delayed it a little (which is, of course, totally understandable!), but my little pledge arrived here in the UK and I've prepped them ready for the base dip and prime stages!

I picked up two miniatures from the Amazons range - both with the intention of adding to the hireling pool for Broken Legions (yes, I know I have a problem when it comes to mercenaries and hirelings!).

First up, I got the Amazon Shaman - which I intend to use as a Wise Woman hireling.  I plan to call her Zina of Dacia.  I particularly like her staff:

She's got a nice amount of detail without being too busy - the skull headdress, the fetish pouch in her left hand and a patch on the back of her cloak all add a nice touch of character without overwhelming the mini.  This was a single-piece cast so just required a little clean up (mostly on the underside of the base).

Secondly, I couldn't resist the Amazon Warrior with Mace.  Not too many miniatures are thicc without being sexualised but this one achieves it - she's clearly a strong, powerful warrior!  The mace adds a bit of variety to my Broken Legions collection too which is good.

I am calling her Callianessa and like some of the other hirelings I'll use the Demigod rules to make some stats fitting of this mighty hero:

This mini is two-piece - the main body and the mace (with forearms) - but nothing taxing to put together.  Like the Shaman, the cast was nice and clean with minimal tidy up required.

This was my first time dealing with Tomb Guardians and I'm very impressed with them - I'll happily check out their ranges to see if there's other bits and pieces I can find a use for!

The 36 Chambers - Sandbag Wall

Ages ago back when Dystopian Legions was a thing I needed (well, wanted) a sandbag emplacement for my Prussian PAK 69 field gun.  I found (what seems to be an eBay only) seller The 36 Chambers - they offer a nice range of resin bases and scenery bits and bobs.  I picked up their 28mm Resin Sandbag Wall (curved) and while I was impressed with it, I prepped and primed it then it sat in a drawer for years with the Dystopian Legions stuff. Ahem.

Cut to near present day, and after my better half bought me a load of cases for the mini collection I started getting organised - and found once more the sandbags from The 36 Chambers.  Well, I didn't fancy starting painting the Prussians just yet, but decided on a whim to paint up the sandbags!

There was a nice amount of texture to the bags, so it painted up nice and quick with simple wash and drybrush techniques.  I think it'll also come in useful for games like Bolt Action or Konflikt 47 too.

I'd happily consider picking up more stuff from The 36 Chambers - check them out!

Seller - Arcane Scenery and Models

Now, Arcane Scenery and Models isn't a new to me seller, but I recently placed an order so thought I'd show what I got here along with a little of my plans for the stuff!

Arcane is a really reliable seller - I've used them for ages now for both miniatures and general hobby supplies.  Good prices, great range and free shipping - this last bit is big; it makes them cheaper than a lot of others out there that don't offer that (and it's not something silly like 'free shipping over £100' either, it's just straight up free shipping).

So, as to what I picked up this time - I mainly went to pick up some trees suitable for Burrows & Badgers (as the Mrs is really keen for that to hit the table!) - I decided on this three pack of Javis Countryside Scenics Trees:

The colour was the closest to an autumnal vibe that I've used on our Burrows & Badgers stuff.  I plan to base these up individually so that they can be used individually or together depending on what we want!

I also spotted these Jordan flowering bushes - there are 6 in the pack, with either red or yelllow flowers:

Again I'll base these individually to maximise how we can use them. Another useful item for all sorts of games in wilderness settings I think!

Finally on plant-related matters I picked up a bag of Javis Tree Foliage - this is for my Na Coillte Dorcha project, specifically for the centrepiece mini:

I had a little browse and spotted a Sarissa pack I'd been after for a while at an offer price - well it would have been silly to not take the opportunity!

It's the planter set from the Gangs of Rome tie-in range - although it'll also find use in Mortal Gods, Broken Legions, Carnevale and more no doubt!

Finally, I spotted this caravan from Sarissa's Gaslamp Alley range:

Now, offensive name aside (although I understand why they did it, especially in the UK), as someone of Romani descent I was very impressed with the way this has been designed, especially in MDF/cardstock.  I thought it would make a nice change of style in Burrows & Badgers and 28mm Dragon Rampant - but if I add Romani in Carnevale it might even make an appearance there!

Alternative Armies - 15mm Scenery

I've got a big Sengoku Monster Hunter project brewing from Alternative Armies, and when I placed a recent order I spotted their 15mm scenery range.  I opted for a couple of sets of resin walls this time round - and I'm very happy!  These will work especially well for our Dragon Rampant 15mm games, but will also have use in Sengoku Monster Hunter no doubt.

I got the Wooden Stakes set - 12 pieces, for a total of 480mm.  The picture shows both sides of the piece:

I also ordered the Bastion Walls set - again 12 pieces, for a total of 480mm:

I'm really happy with both these sets - they also do a stone wall, wooden palisades and hastily constructed barriers comprised of townsfolks' possessions.  The price point for the amount of table coverage is more than reasonable too.

I've certainly got my eye on some of their Human buildings from the same range to use in our games of Dragon Rampant to represent a UNORP town (what with my Orcs and the like being more civilised than usual!).

I can definitely recommend Alternative Armies - they have a huge number of ranges, with all sorts of uses (either their own rulesets or otherwise) and the service is always top notch!

New to me seller - Models For Sale Ltd

My wife treated me to a mega order of hobby supplies and I took the opportunity to pick up a range of Vallejo (and other) products that I'd be thinking about for a while.

After looking around I found Models For Sale, a company that was new to me but has been around a while - and took the plunge.

I have to say that I was not disappointed - it was a fairly big, but pretty all over the place, order but was despatched quickly and (thanks to an assist from Parcelforce) came the next day, even during a glocal pandemic.  Can't complain at that!  The price was very competitive too - making them a new go-to for me when I'm ordering ranges they stock.

They have a huge range of products - lots of models as the name suggests, but equally all the tools, paints, glues and more that you could need for scale modelling, or in my case, wargame modelling.

I'll run through the stuff I ordered - including a few of my intended uses (where I already know them!).

First, I knew I wanted a selection of paints - I spotted the 16-colour pack of paints from the Vallejo Model Color range specially selected for painting American Civil War models - perfect for my special project!

This pack includes colours for both Union and Confederate uniforms, skin, metal and staple colours besides.  A nice way to boost my Vallejo range with a purpose rather than random choices!

I also picked up Panzer Aces No 2 set:

I was checking out the contents of lots of sets, but this one I felt to be particularly versatile - it contains colours suitable for wood, leather, mud and more.  I like having a wide range of browns and the like as they are so important in painting all sorts of things.

I've got a fair few projects planned and on the go that would really benefit from some dust, rust and more (especially Gorkamorka) and I've been scoping out pigments to try out.  Well, I figured now was as good a time as any to take the plunge and ordered two Vallejo Pigment sets - one for Mud & Sand and one for Rust & Corrosion.

I also added Carbon Black and Dark Red Ochre Pigments - and some Pigment Binder:

I'm looking forward to trying these Pigments out - I think it'll take some practice so I'm going to see what I have knocking about that might help give these a go!

I spotted a Rust wash that I'm going to use on Gorkamorka and Necromunda stuff especially (but others too no doubt) - and I do like using dark greys on minis so picked up a couple of bottles of Black Grey (definitely be using these on some of my Dracula's America stuff!):

Vallejo do a wide-range of auxiliaries (the kind of thing GW calls 'technical') and I thought I've been in the hobby long enough now to dip my toe into this esoteric world: 

I went for Glaze Medium, Thinner Medium and something to help me get my Bolt Action/Konflikt 47 stuff finished - Decal Fix.

I also figured that if I want to start making use of my better quality brushes I should invest in some stuff to help look after them - Brush Restorer had some good reviews online:

Finally on the Vallejo front I picked up some Still Water texture - primarily for a fountain I have for Carnevale, but no doubt for other things too (maybe puddles on some of the Rashaar bases?):

I also picked up a set of Tamiya Basic Brushes -  this pack includes Flat Brush No. 3, Flat Brush No. 1 and Pointed Brush (small).  I thought for the price it would be useful for painting scenery and terrain items if nothing else:

I then moved on to AK Interactive stuff - first up some Splatter Effects Wet Ground - this stuff I plan to use on my Bolt Action and Konflikt 47 vehicles and tanks, but it'll no doubt prove useful on other stuff too!

Finally for this order - a spangly new aluminium palette!

I'd wanted a fresh palette for a while so took the opportunity to pick this up while I was placing the order.

So, to summarise, I can highly recommend Models For Sale Ltd for the extent of their range, the competitive pricing and the speed and smoothness of fulfilment.  Check them out if you are looking for an alternative to wargames-centric suppliers of paints, tools and more.

Tajima1 Miniatures - Grass Tufts

I'd bought some tufts several years ago from Tajima1 on eBay - well, as part of stocking up during the current lockdown arrangements here I paid the Tajima1 Miniatures website a visit and placed an order, let's have a look at what I got!

First up, the very versatile Battlefield Mix.  I got a box of small tufts in this colour:

One of the good features of Tajima1 tufts are the option for mixed packs - these come with three different sizes in the same colour, providing a nice variety to choose from when basing a project!  First up I picked Brown:

Again a very versatile colour that'll suit for a wide range of games.

I also picked up a mixed box of Gold tufts:

These should work well for Dracula's America I think - with that in mind I also got a box of Small Shrubs in Desert Mix colour:

I also took the opportunity to pick up a box of flower tufts (I'm a bit of a sucker for flowers on some miniatures!) - I went with a mixed box 'C', which includes turquoise, lemon, peacock blue and purple:

As I'd ordered five boxes direct through the Tajima1 website they also included a free pack of their Wild Grass Tufts!

Another really versatile colour tuft I think!

I recommend checking out Tajima1 Miniatures if you are after some tufts - it's always helpful to have a range of sellers and Tajima1 are definitely in my go-to list!